The Detroit Pistons are dominating the paint, and it could help them to break a drought that has extended for nearly two decades.
The Pistons currently lead the NBA in points in the paint scored and allowed, which has helped them to overcome their lack of outside shooting.
This may catch up to them at some point, but right now the Pistons are just beating teams up in the lane like it’s the 1990s.
Modern fans have been brainwashed into thinking 3-point shooting is the only way to succeed in the NBA, but recent numbers show that dominating the paint is a path to a mark the Pistons haven’t hit since the 2007-8 season.
Detroit Pistons: Winning 50+ games in the paint
Recent history has shown that paint dominance is one way to get to 50+ wins, which the Pistons last did under Flip Saunders (RIP) back in 2008 when they won 59 games.
Since 2020-21 every team that has led the NBA in points in the paint has won at least 47 games and all but one of them won at least 50, so the Pistons are currently on pace to join this group.
Instead of trying to be something they are not, the Pistons have leaned into what they are, building their offense around a dominant pick-and-roll duo in Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, who is currently near the league lead in points per possession as a roll man.
The Pistons hunt missed shots and are currently 5th in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game. Guys like Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson are giving the Pistons extra possessions.
Detroit is also 6th in the NBA in free-throw attempts per game, a byproduct of spending so much time around the rim.
This is how they have overcome their 3-point shooting, which has not been great, as Detroit is just 18th in the NBA in percentage and 27th in the NBA in made 3-point shots per game.
We know the numbers tell us that the corner 3-point shot is the most efficient, but you can overcome that by getting a ton of easy shots at the rim, transition buckets and free throws, which is what the Pistons have done so far.
Call them old school or a throwback, it doesn’t matter, as what the Pistons are doing is effective. Yes, they could use some more 3-point shooting (bring on Malik Beasley!) but if they can lead the NBA in points in the paint, it is a proven path to 50+ wins, which would be a huge step forward for this franchise.